Among them was the politically powerful Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association which argued that the proposed demonstration is prohibited by Section 333 of the Communications Act. Others opposing the test stated that CellAntenna could not conclusively show that its gear would not cause interruption to cellular service outside the prison walls and could lead to inadvertent jamming of calls for emergency assistance.

"The cellular providers through the CTIA say they sympathize and support law enforcement in their fight against illegal cell phones in prisons, but lobby our government to deny law enforcement access to jamming equipment," said Howard Melamed, President and CEO of CellAntenna.

Under the CellAntenna proposal a correctional facility that finds a cell phone used by an inmate can order the carrier associated with that cell phone to turn over all income earned from the illegal cell phone.

CellAntenna, based in Coral Springs, Fla., and a supplier of wireless jamming and repeater gear, was to have had its equipment used at a Dec. 18 jamming demonstration at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice before the event was cancelled due to controversy, even though the scheduled event had support of Texas Gov.

"I am shocked that the Department of the Criminal Justice of the State of Texas is canceling the cellphone jamming demonstration at the last minute," said Howard Melamed, President and CEO of CellAntenna said at the time.